Hello from Virginia!

My Perinatal Nursing Course (PNC) began this week here in Virginia, so I'm currently enjoying 8 hr classroom days and weekends off. They put us up in the Visiting Officers' Quarters here at Langley, so it's hotel living for the next week and a half. Cody's back home 'enjoying' long work hours, although he has gotten out to play a little golf and has more plans to do so. Here are a couple pictures from around the area.

My lovely 'home' for a couple weeks

I happened along the base golf course- very flat here in Virginia

Driving range



A view on my walk along the bay- where I dd see dolphins (confirmed by a passing family on bikes)



a 'lil history

for the hubs...

and then here's the storm

A classmate and I are headed up to Washington DC in the morning. I wanted to make the most of my trip here, so I'm trying to pack as much sightseeing in as possible. Here's hoping there's hardly any traffic northbound in the am!

World's Best Ice Cream....?

Taya Cheeto Mann and the rest of her crazy family:

We left spots for Mom and Elysia

A view as we headed up to Independence Gold Mine

A view of the mine remains

this was taken shortly after Taya muttered, 'this is kinda boring...

'

Beautiful birch trees

the girl loves ice cream

and Rory took us on home

And the Fun Continues

Just a few more pictures from the wedding and family:

Our awesome aggravation board my Uncle Mike made us (notice the Nebraska game on in the background, which became the foreground for some...)

A very creative picture frame from Cody's Mom (you can see we had a lot of help opening gifts...)

We got a good laugh out of our Nativity moose

Bath time with the aunts (the really cute pictures were left out for obvious reasons)

Some enjoyed giving the sign of the cross on Rory's forehead better than receiving it

THE main event that day, well, other than breakfast

Rory, parents, and godparents

We put up a good fight with the pancakes that morning (Snow City Cafe, A+++)

Alright, that's all for tonight, but there's certainly more to come. Cody and I have been enjoying a few evenings together here before I fly to Virginia tomorrow. We finally got around to rearranging the kitchen cabinets (what a task!). We've slowly been comparing details of the wedding and trip together and it's been fun to rehash. We're looking forward to getting our pictures back and hope to have the scrapbook made before our reception in November.

More wedding

And here continues the photos:

Congratulatory high-fives

My princess-like wave moment

cutting our beautiful cake

Aunt Elysia turned out to be a fantastic twirler

First dance

The 'Long' kids

Papa and I

Cody and the gang

Rory boy and I

We got pretty good at the dip

Alaska: confirmed

What a whirlwind few weeks, but it was great to have all our family and a few friends with us here to celebrate. Here are a few pictures I was able to steal from my Dad's camera (Cody and I took a hiatus from photography).

We had a beautiful view of Denali the first two days they were here

Enjoying the view during a short hike Sunday

by the creekbed: enjoying the sunshine!

Dad and his silver salmon, caught along the Russian River, Aug. 29

The bear he and Scott watched fish/play

Erin, Mom and Ethan at the windy,  rainy, Bird Point

Belugas: confirmed.

The whole fam damily: Aug 31 in Seward, Alaska

Wet and miserable, we made it to Exit Glacier

Our rehearsal dinner guest

My main squeeze getting ready to head out with his fellas

My door-answerer and hair dresser and I admiring the beautiful flowers my then-fiance sent over (after he ding-dong ditched us)

Applying make-up with Aunt Elysia

oh so very happy to finally be in her dress

THE cutest flower girl and godson

the emotional 'hand-off'

THE main event

 More to be uploaded shortly...

Wedding Day!

Just thought I would post here quickly before I head to bed (I'm hoping for a least a little sleep tonight). We had a great rehearsal dinner tonight: so very glad all our family and friends that were able to make it could join us (plus a bull moose was kind enough to make an appearance). We're very much looking forward to today! Thank you for all the well wishes :)